Shoe stretcher



jan.2,194@, 1-N, HALL Y 2,185,765

SHOE STETCHER Filed D60. 2, 1936 l /A/FA/roe; F20/0 M HALL,

Patented Jan. 2, 1940 f UNITED srarE'S ',-P'tttii ortica -,2; 1'85J`65 sfios'rnn'r'oim'a Floyd N.A lclall, Louis, Moaassignor to Willian@i -Gray, St. Louis,.Mo-. j ,l Application December 2, 1936,- s'eialfNo. 113,804

3 Claims.

The present invention relatesgenerally to shoe stretchers, and more particularly tofshoe stretchers which are adapted to stretch required areas of a shoe without distorting the Whole shoe.

An object of the invention is to provide a shoe stretcher of a construction adapted to lengthen the vamp of a shoe by stretching without bending the arch or unduly stretching the remainder of the upper. j

Another object is to provide a shoe stretcher which is adapted to fulfill the foregoing object and other objects, which are apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a shoe stretcher constructed in accordance Withlthe teachings of the present invention; y

Fig. 2 is a central section through the shoe stretcher shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; 4

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 1 -4v of Fig. 2;`

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6--6 of Fig. `2; and,

Fig. 7 is a section .on the line 'I l of Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawing more particularly by reference numerals, I indicates generally a shoe stretcher embodying lthe teachings `lof the present invention. Theshoe stretcher I0 comprises a front section II, a central section I2, and arear section I3. When the front section II, the central section I2 and the rear section I3 are in contiguous relationship (Fig. 1), the shoe stretcher IU is of a conguration to conform substantially to the inner contours of a shoe. f

The front section II includes an upper surface I contoured to conform to the toe portion of the upper of a shoe and a bottom surface I6 of substantially the same contour as the corresponding portion of the inner sole of a shoe. The central section I2 includes a bottom surface i1 contoured to conform tothe shank and contiguous portions of the inner sole of a shoe, the upper surface I8 being contoured to iit within the central portion of the upper of a shoe. The rear section I3 includes a bottom surface adapted to conform to the heel portion of the inner sole of a shoe, and an upper surface 2l contoured to conform to the heel portion of the upper of a shoe.

A mechanism is provided for moving the -front section II forwardly from the centralsection I2. A plate 23 (Fig. 2) is connected by screws 24, or the like, to the forward end of the central section I2, a portion of which forms the forward Wall of a chamber 25 formedl in the forward portion of the central section I2. A small plate 26 is disposed within the chamber 25 in a plane parallel to `the plate 23 vto form the rear ,opposed Wall of the chamber 25. A shaft; 2l is journaled in an opening 28 in the plate23 and in an opening 29 in the plate 26, a reduced extension Stof the shaft 2l being disposed in the opening 29. 'Ihe shaft 21 includes a threaded portion 3| which extends forwardly beyond the plate 23. A beveled gear 33 is iixed to the shaft 2l within the chamber 25 by a pin 34, or the like, and abuts the plate 23 to prevent displacement of the shaft 2l. A shaft 35 extends through an opening 36 in the central section I2 into the chamber 25. vA beveled gear 3l is fixed by a pin 38 to that end of the shaft 35 which isdisposed within the chamber 25. The l beveled gear 3l meshes with the beveled gear 33. A handle 39 is fixed to the free end` of the shaft 35. Shafts 40 are xed to the plate 23 by extensions 4I, which extend into openings in the. plate23' and are peened or otherwise fixed to the inner surface of the plate 23. The shafts i0 extend parallel to the shaft 2l, one being disposed at'eachside thereof (Fig. 3). j

" Extending into the front section lI in parallel relation are a central well 43 and side Wells lid (Figl'3)`.. The central Well i3 is enlarged. at its threads the nut f'ifwhile the shafts llt extend into the Wells M to position the front section Ii relativetothe central section`I2.

The rear section I3 includes a threaded central well i8 and two threaded side Wells 49. Into the central well 218 is threaded the threaded portion of a shaft 5@ and tothe side wells Il!) are threaded the threaded portions of shafts' 5I, the shafts '.50A and 5I being in'parallelk relation and extending forwardly from the rear section I3. The shaft Eil includes a plurality of spaced notches 52. lThe central section I2 includes, extending forwardly from the rear surface thereof, a central well 53 and side wells 54. The free portion of the shaft 59 extends into the well 53 and the free portions of the shafts 5I extend into the wells 54. A Well 55 extends from the upper surface of the central section I2 at right angles to the well 53 and connects with the well 53. A bushing 55 is disposed within the well 55, the bushing 56 including a flange 5i at the upper end. A plunger 58 having a threaded upper end 59 and a plunger head 60 at the lower end extends through the bushing 56. A knob 6I threadedly engages thethreaded upper end 59 of the plunger 58. A helical spring 62 maintains the plunger 58 normally lin a position with the `outerfend and receives in fixed relationship a nut v l1&5.. The threaded portion 4I of the shaft 2'."

plunger head 6I! extending into the well 53 and engaging one of the notches 52 of the shaft 50.

Operation It is apparent from the foregoing description, taken with the accompanying drawing, that rotation of the shaft 35 by means of the handle 39 rotates the shaft 2'I to move the front section II relative to the central section I2, there being a closing or separating movement, depending upon the threading on the threaded portion 3| of the shaft 2'I and in the nut 45. The rear section I3 can be readily moved toward or away from the central section I2 by withdrawing the plunger 58 from engagementv with the shaft 50 by outward movement of the knob 6I. It is possible,there fore, to adjust the rear section I3 relative to the central section I2 prior to moving the front section II in a stretching action.

With the rear section I3 adjusted-relative to the central section I2, the shoe stretcher I0 is disposed in a shoe desired stretched. Thel bottom surface of the shoe stretcher I0, and particularly the bottom surface I'I of the central section I2, substantially conforms to the contours of the inner sole of the shoe. The handle 39 and shaft 35 are rotated to move the front section II forwardly from the central section I2, the total amount of movement being determined by the amount of stretch required. As the front section II moves forwardly into stretching contact with the cap and vamp, the bottom surface of the central section IZ snugly engages the arch of the shoe, inasmuch as the force exerted in the stretching action extends substantially parallel with the shaft 2l. 'I'he stretching force is, therefore, received by the arch of the shoe through the central section I2,'but there is no bending or breaking of the arch, inasmuch as the force is distributed over the full area thereof. The rear section I 3 serves only as an anchorage for the central section l2, very little pressure being exerted through the rear section I3 against the rear portion of the upper of the shoe. There is not the customary front-to-rear stretching which breaks the arch of a shoe and distorts the upper.

Only that portion of the shoe which it is desired to stretch is actually stretched by the shoe stretcher I0, namely, the vamp.

It is apparent, therefore, that there has been provided a shoe stretcher which is adapted to fulfill all of the objects and advantages sought therefor. It is to be understood that the various elements of the shoe stretcher IB are constructed of suitable material. `It is further to be understood that the foregoing description and accompanying drawing have been given by way ofillustration and example, and notv for purposes of limitation, the invention being limited only by the claims which follow.

I claim:l

1. In a device of the kind described, a rst section, a recess in the front portion of said rst section, cooperating bevelled gears within said recess, an operating handle connected to one of said gears, a threaded shaft fixed to the other of elongated recesses in said second section, and guide rods fixed to said first section and extending into said additional recesses, said shaft threadedly engaging said nut and adapted to move the second section relative to the first sec- -tion upon manipulation of said handle.

2. A shoe stretcher comprising, a rst section,

elongated recesses extending thereinto from the rear end thereof, a vertically disposed aperture in said "first section opening into one of said recesses and leading from the top thereof, a second section, a latch rod fixed to said second section having transverse slots, guide rods fixed to said second portion, said latch rod extending into said one of said recesses and said guide rods extending into the other recesses, and a springurged plunger within the vertical aperture engaging a slot of-the latch rod, wherebythe position of the second section'may be adjusted relative to the first section.

3. In adevice of the kind described, a central section, a recess in the front portion of said central section, cooperating bevelled gears Within said recess, an operating handle connected to one of said gears, a threaded shaft fixed to the other of saidrgears extending from said recess, a front portion, an elongated recess therein opening in the rear thereof, a nut fixed in said recess at the rear face of the portion, additional elongated recesses in said front portion, guide rods fixed to said central portion vand extending into said additional recesses, said shaft threadedly engaging said nut and adapted to-move the front -portion relative to the central section upon manipulation of :said handle, elongated recesses extending into said central section from the rear -end thereof, a vertically disposed aperture in said 

